The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-05-11
A TOUR OF THE FIELDS.
WHEATS CONDITION NOT AS GOOD
AS A MONTH AGO.

Ohio the Scene of the Most Serious
| Set, Back-Rye Suffers to Less
Extent, Owing to it's Harder Nature
-Four-f1fths of the Proposed Cotton
Area Already Planted.
WASHINGTON, May 10.-The report of the
| Department of Agriculture for May relates
to the condition of winter grain, the pro-
gress of spring plowing and the proportion
of the proposed cotton already planted. 1t
indicates a decline in the condition of wheat
of two points since April 1, the general
average for the whole country being 81,
against 95 at the same date in 1885, 40 in
| 1885 and "a in 1884. The changes in condi-
ton have not been uniform throughout the
winter wheat region, some States showing
an increase, majority a slight define and a
| few heavy falling off. The States of the
Middle Atlantic coast, from Pennsylvania to
| North Carolina, show some improvement,
seasonable weather having aided the plant
| in recovering more than was expected from
| the injury done by the trying season during
| February and March.
NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY.
In New York and New Jersey the amount
| of winter killing was not fully known on
| April /, and this, with cold and unfavorable
weather during the month has caused a
| serious reduction of condition. The drought
has reduced the average somewhat in the
| eastern Gulf States and has wrought very
serious damage in Texas and Arkansas,
lowering the condition during the month
| 10 and 10 points respectively. Favorable
| temperature and seasonable rains have i'm
proved the prospect in Tennessee, West
| Virginia and Kentucky. The condition has
been considerably higher in these than it
has averged in May for the past five years
| oHIo's HEAVY Loss.
The most serious reduction of the month
is in Ohio, where there is a falling off of
eight points since April l, due to the CON
| tinuing evil effects of the alternate freezing
and thawing noted in the last report and to
the cold, dry weather dnring the greater
part Of April, which gave the injured plant
| little chance for recuperation. A favor
able season, after April /, might have in
great measure repaired the injury done up
to that time, but continued unfavorable
| conditions have wrought still further dam
| age, and small crop is now inevitable.
| Michigan and Indiana show slight decline,
| while in the Western States and Missouri
| there is gain of one point. Unfavorable
weather in Kansas and California has caused
| slight falling off, while in Oregon
| the prospect has advanced, it being the only
| State in which the condition reached 10.
The averages of condition by States are:
| New York S6, Pennsylvania ~, Maryland
| "a, Virginia SO, North Carolina90, Texas 90,
| Arkansas 90, Tennessee 90, West Virginia
| 50, Kentucky 95 Ohio II, Michigan 80, In
diana 81, Illinois 93, Missouri 90, Kansas 81,
| California 80, Oregon 10l.
RYE AND BARLEY.
Rye has suffered from the same conditions
which have injuriously affected wheat, but
on account of its harder nature the general
average is considerably higher, standing at
| 90.s, against 92 on April and 95.7 at the
| same date in 1886.
The condition of barley is low, the average
being SIS, against 96.7 in May, 1886, and
| 80 in 1886. The season has been more gem
| orally advanced in all parts of the country
| than usual, spring plowing being seriously
| behind only on the Atlantic coast south to
| Pennsylvania, and on the Pacific slope. In
| these sections it has been delayed by cold and
excess of moisture. Elsewhere work is ahead
of the average year the season, especially
during the early part of April, having been
| generally favorable with temperature above
| normal and the rainfalN at the minimum
| The proportion already done on May is es-
! timated at so per cent of the whole while
the amount usually completed at that date
is about ~ per cent.
| COTTON PLANTING
The proportion of cotton already planted
| amounts to more than four-fifths of the pro-
posed area, and is slightly greater than at
| the same date in any Of the preceding five
| years, but is a little less than the proportion
! returned by correspondents as the
average planting at that date
| The proportions by States are:
| North Carolina 20, South Carolina so, Geor-
gia 81, Florida %, Alabama SS, Mississippi
| 81, Louisiana SO, Texas So, Arkansas so,
Tennessee so. There is some complaint of
slow termination and poor stand on account
of drought at the time of planting in some
| sections, but with favorable weather rapid
| replanting is filing all the gaps.
INTERSTATE COMMERCE..